Answer: James Wilson
James Wilson (1742–1798) was the Founding Father who fits all the clues in the question.
Why Wilson matches the description:
- Attorney who served on the first Supreme Court: Wilson was one of the original six justices appointed by George Washington in 1789. He served until his death in 1798.
- Targeted by rioters in October 1779: During the Fort Wilson Riot in Philadelphia, an armed mob attacked Wilson’s home. The rioters were angry because Wilson had defended some accused Loyalists in court. The mob broke down his front door and tried to kill him, but he and his allies held them off until help arrived.
- Quoted the Declaration of Independence’s preamble in public after 1776: Wilson was one of the very few Founders who continued to publicly invoke the Declaration’s language (especially “all men are created equal” and the idea of popular sovereignty) in the years after independence. According to James Madison’s notes, Wilson read from the Declaration on the floor of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 while making arguments about government by the people.
- Deep commitment to popular self-rule: Even after the violent attack on his home, Wilson remained a strong advocate for democracy and popular sovereignty. Biographer Jesse Wegman has highlighted this aspect of Wilson’s character — his willingness to double down on democratic principles despite facing a literal mob at his door.
Wilson was also a major figure at the Constitutional Convention (he spoke more than almost anyone except Madison and Gouverneur Morris) and was one of only six people to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Correct Answer: James Wilson
